The Blog

Rep. Chris Stewart Introduces New Legislation for new National Parks in Utah

Utah Representative Chris Stewart introduced new legislation on Wednesday following the signing of two executive orders on Monday which reduced the size of the Grand Staircase-Escalante & Bears Ears National Monuments. The new legislation, The Grand Staircase Escalante Enhancement Act (H.R. 4558) would create a 6th National Park, the Escalante Canyons Park & Preserve.

If the Grand Staircase Escalante Enhancement Act were to pass changes would include:

Transferring the “Hole in the Rock Road” back to the state of Utah in recognition of the significance it has to the Mormon Pioneer trail

Creating Escalante Canyons National Park; making it the 6th National Park in Utah

Creating three separate national monuments; The Grand Staircase, Escalante & Kaiparowits national monuments.

Representative Chris Stewart stated in the press release “There is a reason I live in Utah. I love it here! I love to ski. I love to hike and rock climb. I love these lands. I want to preserve them, and I believe Utahans are better suited to manage our lands than bureaucrats back in Washington.”